Apparatus for elevating construction materials



Feb. 28, 1967 D. L. MEEKS ET A 3,306,573

APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Fil ed Sept. 30, 1965 76 8 7 g6 My, a; g i I laIII/IIl/I/IlIl/ll INVENTORS yo 00A/ALO La Me-Ezs 5 United States Patent Ofifice 3 306,578 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 3,306,578 APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Donald L. Meeks and Kenneth C. Waller, Ponca City,

Okla, assignors to Easy-Way Products, Inc., Ponca City, Okla, a corporation of Oklahoma Filed Sept. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 491,652 3 Claims. (Cl. 254-4) This invention relates to apparatus for lifting or elevating large sheets of construction materials. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a device for raising from the ground or floor level, one or more flat sheets of such construction materials as Sheetrock, plywood paneling, or the like, to a ceiling or other elevated location with a minimum of effort and maximum flexibility in the positioning of the construction material through the use of the apparatus.

In the construction or repair of buildings, it is frequently desirable to lift or elevate a flat sheet of construction material from the ground or floor level to the ceiling or roof for the purpose of positioning the construction material in juxtaposition to other members to which it is to be secured. Although various devices have heretofore been provided for accomplishing this function, the expense of such devices, or their inefficiency, have resulted in the task still often being accomplished manually by two or more personnel with the result that the expense of performing the repair or construction task is increased, and the difficulty in completing the job is also com pounded.

The present invention provides an improved apparatus for elevating fiat construction material, such as wooden paneling, Sheetrock, acoustical panels or the like, to a position where they can be easily secured in the desired location by a single carpenter or craftsman with a minimum of difliculty. Broadly described, the invention comprises a vertically extending framework having horizontally spaced first and second ends; bearing means mounted on each of the ends of the framework; a rigid, vertically extending member extending slidably through each of the bearing means at each end of the framework; 21 horizontally extending material support frame secured to the upper ends of the rigid, vertically extending members for supporting in a horizontally extending position a sheet of construction material; means connected to the support frame for engaging and supporting a flat, generally rectangular sheet of construction material in a vertically extending position; and means for elevating on the framework, the rigid, vertically extending members and the horizontally extending support frame associated therewith so that the construction material carried by the horizontally extending supporting frame can be positioned at a desired vertical level during a construction operation.

In a specific, preferred embodiment of the invention, the framework is mounted on a plurality of casters to impart portability to the lifting device, and further includes a pair of generally triangular end sections which are spaced horizontally from each other and each include two upwardly extending, elongated, converging side members. The side members are secured to and support at their upper ends one of the bearing means which accommodates or slidingly receives the rigid, vertically extending members which support at their upper ends the horizontally extending material support frame. The support frame itself comprises a pair of spaced, horizontally extending rods which are disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane and are each secured at its center to the upper end of one of the rigid, vertically extending members so as to be movable with the vertically extending members on the framework.

In the described specific, preferred embodiment, the means which is used for elevating or lifting the rigid, vertically extending members and the horizontally extending material support frame upwardly comprises a bearing sleeve mounted adjacent the converging upper ends of the side members of each of the first and second triangular end sections; horizontally extending, generally cylindrical winch means having its opposite ends rotatably journaled in the bearing sleeves; a crank arm drivingly connected to the cylindrical winch means, ratchet means preventing rotation of the crank arm in one direction, and a cable connected between the winch means and the rigid, vertically extending members which carry at their upper ends the horizontally extending material support frame.

An important feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention is the particular construction of the means which is provided for engaging and supporting a flat, generally rectangular sheet of construction material in a vertically extending position. This structure includes a pair of downwardly extending, elongated members secured to one side of the horizontally extending support frame with said downwardly extending members being spaced horizontally from each other and disposed in the same substantially vertical plane; a plate secured to the lower end of each of the downwardly extending members for supporting the lower edge of a fiat sheet of construction material rested thereon; and a resilient, elongated, engaging member which is movably secured to the horizontally extending material support frame at one of its ends, and which carries a clamping plate secured to its other end for clamping over, or engaging, the top or upper edge of the flat sheet of construction material.

From the foregoing general description of the invention, it will be perceived that the lifting apparatus of the invention provides an efiicient device for quickly lifting a fiat sheet of construction material having a relatively large area upwardly so as to present the material in a horizontally extending position for attachment to a ceiling, or in a vertically extending position for securement to a wall or other structure.

From the foregoing description, it will have become apparent that it is a major object of the invention to pro vide an improved apparatus for lifting or elevating large sheets of construction materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be used to elevate flat sheets of construction materials in either a horizontal or a vertically extending position with the apparatus being operated by a single person.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for lifting sheets of construction materials, which apparatus is relatively simple in its mechanical construction, and can be relatively economically fabricated.

In addition to the foregoing described objects and advantages, additional objects and advantages will be perceived as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a construction materials lifting device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the lifting apparatus of the invention as it appears when it is being utilized to lift a flat sheet of construction material upwardly while the sheet is positioned in a vertically extending position.

, FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly, to FIGURE 1, the lifting apparatus of the invention includes a vertically extending framework 10, and a horizontally extending support carriage or frame 14- movably mounted on the framework 10. The framework includes a pair of horizontally spaced, generally triangular end sections which each include two upwardly extending, converging elongated side members 16. Each pair of the side members 16 are interconnected by a pair of spaced plates 18 at their closely adjacent upper ends, and by a horizontally extending brace 20 at their lower ends. The two triangular end sections are interconnected by an elongated horizontal brace member 22 which extends between, and has its opposite ends connected to, the respective braces 20 in the triangular end sections. Four casters 24 are swivelly mounted on the framework 10 at the lower ends of each of the triangular end sections at the junction of the side members 16 with the respective brace 20 by which the side members are interconnected. The framework 10 thus rests upon the casters and is portable.

The horizontally extending support carriage or frame 14 comprises a pair of spaced, horizontally extending rods 26 which are disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane and are interconnected by an elongated horizontal connecting rod 28 which is attached at its opposite ends to the center of the rods 26. The center of each of the horizontally extending rods 26 is also secured to the upper end of a rigid, vertically extending member 30 which passes through a bearing channel 34 of generally rectangular cross sectional configuration mounted between the plates 18 which are secured to the upper ends of the converging side members 16 of the framework 10. At their lower ends, the rigid, vertically extending members 30 are interconnected by a horizontal brace 36. Although the bearing channels 34 are, in the illustrated embodiment, of rectangular cross sectional configuration in order to slidably accommodate the rigid vertically extending members 30 which are also of rectangular cross sectional configuration, any suitable bearing means can be utilized in the construction, and the rigid vertically extending members 30 can be of circular cross section or of any other configuration which may be desired. It should be noted that with the framework 10 supported on the casters 24, the horizontally extending rods 26 and the connecting rod 28 occupy substantially the same horizontal plane.

For the purpose of positioning a flat sheet of construction material in a vertically extending position as it is elevated to the desired height, the horizontally extending support frame 14 has secured thereto a pair of downwardly extending, elongated members which are each secured at their upper ends to one end of the spaced, horizontally extending rod 28 of the frame 14 and are disposed in the same, substantially vertical plane. At the same height or distance above the base of the framework 10, the downwardly extending elongated members 40 each carry a supporting plate 42 which is slightly curved or arcuate in shape so as to permit the lower edge of the flat sheet of construction material to be rested thereon. Such a sheet of construction material is illustrated in dashed lines in FIGURE 2 and is designated by reference numeral 43.

For the purpose of retaining the vertically extending sheet of construction material in proper position on the lifting apparatus, an adjustable engaging means designated generally by reference numeral 44 is movably secured to the horizontal connecting rod 28 at about the center thereof. The adjustable engaging means 44 in the illustrated embodiment comprises an elongated, helically wound spring 46 which is swivelly connected at one of its ends to an eye 48 which is bolted to the horizontal connecting rod 28. At its other end, the spring 46 is attached to a clamping plate 50 which is arcuate or curved back toward the spring 46 slightly so that the clamping plate can be hooked over the upper edge of the fiat sheet of construction material 43 when the construction material is positioned on the supporting plates 42. The appearance of the apparatus and a sheet of construction material which is carried thereby in a vertically extending position is best illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

In order to elevate or lift a sheet of construction material carried by the lifting apparatus to a desired height, an elevating means designated generally by reference numeral 52 is mounted on the framework 10. The elevating means 52 includes an elongated tubular member 54 which is journaled at its opposite ends in sleeve bearings 56 mounted in the plates 18 of the triangular sections of the framework 10 as best illustrated in FIGURE 4. The sleeve bearings 56 can be held in place by means of suitable set screws 58.

A crank 60 is connected to one end of the elongated tubular member 54 and projects therefrom on the outside of the plates 18 at one end of the framework 10. The crank 60 carries a ratchet plate 62 which is keyed to the crank for rotation therewith. A dog 64 is pivotally mounted on the plate 18 adjacent the ratchet plate 62 and functions when pivoted to a downward position to prevent the ratchet plate from rotating in one direction, while permitting free rotation of the ratchet plate in the other direction.

Keyed to the elongated tubular member 54 adjacent the opposite ends thereof and inside the triangular end sections of the framework 10 are a pair of small, cylindrical winch drums 66. A pair of elongated, flexible cables 68 are each connected 'at one of their ends to an eye 70 swivelly mounted in the horizontal connecting rod 28 near one of the ends thereof, and each of the cables is extended intermediate its ends in a plurality of convolutions around one of the cable drums 66. The opposite ends of the cables 68 are secured to eyes 72 swivelly mounted in the horizontal brace 36 which interconnects the lower ends of the vertically extending members 30.

Operation In the operation of the lifting apparatus of the invention, the crank 60 is utilized by a carpenter or other operating personnel to manipulate the apparatus and elevate the fiat sheets of construction material in one of several ways. At the outset of the operation, of course, the lifting apparatus is moved to the desired location within or outside a building or other structure by rolling it on the casters 24. When the device is positioned beneath the roof or ceiling, or adjacent the wall, where the plywood, Sheetrock or other construction material is to be secured, the crank 60 is rotated so as to reel out the portions of the cables 68 extending downwardly from the cable drums 66, and thus permit the vertically extending members 30 to slide downwardly through their respective bearing channels 34. This movement of the rigid, vertically extending members 30 in turn lowers the horizontally extending support frame 14 until it occupies approximately the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. In this position of the apparatus, a fiat sheet of construction material may be placed in a substantially horizontal plane atop the horizontally extending support frame 14 so that it rests upon the spaced, horizontally extending rods 26 and the horizontal connecting rod 28. With the construction material in this position, it is ready to be lifted upwardly in a horizontal plane until it is brought into contact with the stringers, studs or other structural members in the roof or ceiling to which it is to be nailed or otherwise suitably secured. Lifting of the sheet of construction material is accomplished by rotating the crank 60 in a clockwise direction so as to pay out or lengthen the spans of cables 68 extending upwardly from the winch drums 66 to the eyes 70, and shorten the spans of the cables extending downwardly from the winch drums 66 to the eyes 72. The effect of this manipulation of the cable is to lift the rigid, vertically extending members 30 upwardly, simultaneously elevating the horizontally extending support frame 14. With the proper elevation of the construc- 6 angular end sections, said horizontally extending, elongated brace member being connected at its opposite ends to substantially the midpoints of said braces;

ti-on material having been reached, the crank can be re- 5- elongated cylindrical means having its opposite leased, but will not reverse its direction of rotation under ends rotatably connected to the horizontally the weight of the construction material since the dog 64 spaced, triangular end sections adjacent the will engage the ratchet plate 62. After the construction upper ends of said elongated side members, said material has been secured in the desired position, the elongated cylindrical means being generally dog 64 can be manually released by pivoting it upwardly, 1O vertically aligned with said horizontally extendand the crank 60 reversed in its direction of rotation so as ing brace member; to lower the horizontally extending support frame 14. crank means connected to said elongated cylin- The operation of elevating construction material can then drical means on the opposite side of one of said be repeated as often as desired and in any location desired. triangular end sections from the other said In another manner of using the apparatus of the inventriangular end section; tion, the horizontally extending support frame 14 is lowmeans secured to said one triangular end section ered to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, and a sheet for preventing the rotation of said crank means of construction material 43 is positioned on the supportin one direction while permitting said crank ing plates 42 so as to extend vertically upwardly therefrom means to rotate in the opposite direction; and rest against the downwardly extending elongated casters mounted at the lower ends of said elongated members 40. It will be noted that in this position, the side members for imparting portability to said fiat sheet of construction material 43 will clear the triapparatus; and angular end sections of the framework 10, and can be a support carriage slidingly mounted on said vertilifted upwardly or lowered without interference from any cally extending framework for vertical moveof the rigid structural parts of the framework. To sement with respect thereto, said support carriage cure the construction material 43 firmly in position, the c mprising: spring 46 is pivoted upwardly so that it extends to a point an H-shaped horizontal framework lying subadjacent the upper edge of the sheet of construction mastantially in a horizontal plane and having terial. This will entail some elongation of the spring 46 a pair of spaced, substantially parallel so that the spring is placed in tension. The clamping 3 rods Each extending horizontally and plate 50 will be hooked over or clamped to the upper edge occupying substantially the same plane of the sheet of construction material, and the downward as one of said triangular end sections; bias exerted by the spring 46 will assure the continued and engagement of the clamping plate. The apparatus is now an elongated, horizontal connecting rod ready for use in elevating the sheet of construction maattached at its pp ends to Said terial, and the process of elevation is accomplished in subparallel rods at substantially the midstantially the same manner as hereinbefore described. point of each of said parallel rods, the

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will horizontal connecting rod lying genhave become apparent that the lifting apparatus of the erallyill the Same Vertical Plano as Said invention provides an improved technique for quickly and horizontally extending, elongated brace accurately positioning large, flat sheets of construction member; material in an elevated position during construction or a P of Spaced, rigid, Vertically extending repair operations. The apparatus of the invention is members aligned in a common Pldne With portable, and is flexible in its possibilities of utilization said horizontal connecting rod and each since large sheets of construction materials can be lifted connected at its upper end to substantially in either vertical or horizontal planes as may be required. the midp of one of Said Parallel rods Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has and each extending slidingly through the been described in the foregoing specification and illusconnecting means of one of said triangular trated in the drawings in order to provide an example 611d Sections and maintained Substantially of the construction of the invention, certain modifications 5O vertically aligned thereby; and innovations can be effected in the described structure a horizontal brace element interconnecting without departure from the basic principles underlying the the lower ends of said rigid, vertically exinvention. All such modifications are therefore deemed tending members and spaced below, and in to be circumscribed by the spirit and scope of the invenvertical alignment with, said horizontal contion except as the same may be necessarily limited by 5 necting-rod; the appended claims or reasonable equivalents thereof. a pair of horizontally spaced, substantially What is claimed is: parallel, downwardly extending material 1. Apparatus for lifting flat construction materials of support me ber a h r d t it upper large surface area comprising! end to one end of one of said parallel rods, a vertically extending framework comprising: id t i l support members being aligned a pair of horizontally spaced, generally triangular i a ommo substantially ti l plane end sections, each of said triangular end sections spaced horizontally from aid elongated, including! horizontal connecting rod, said common two p a y extending, converging, elonvertical plane extending between the lower gated sldo members; 5 ends of the two side members of both of means connecting the relatively closely adj? said triangular end sections; and

cent upper ends of said side members to material supporting plates mounted on the each other; and lower ends of each of said material support a generally horizontally extending brace intermembers for engaging the lower edge of Connecting the tWo Side members at Points a flat sheet of construction material at horiadjacent the lower ends of said side memzontally spaced points therealong;

hers; elongated, flexible means connected at opposite ends a horizontally extending, elongated brace member to the connecting rod and to the horizontal brace extending between and interconnecting said element and having a medial portion wound in a horizontally extending braces in the two triplurality of turns around said elongated cylindrical means whereby when said elongated cylindrical means is rotated with said crank, said support carriage will be elevated relative to said vertically extending frame- Work;

prises a dog pivotally secured to said one triangular end section and engageable with said ratchet plate for preventing rotation of said ratchet plate and crank in one direction.

resilient, flexible, engaging means having an end con- 5 nected to said horizontal connecting rod at a point gated cylindrical means comprises an elongated tubular between the ends thereof and having a second end; member having its opposite ends rotatably journaled in and said connecting means; and

a clamping plate secured on said second end of said at least one drum keyed to said tubular member and resilient, flexible engaging means for engaging an 10 having said elongated flexible means wound thereedge of a flat sheet of construction material supported around in a plurality of turns. on said material supporting plates,

said apparatus being for lifting fiat construction materials being constructed and configured so that an open space unoccupied by any structural elements 15 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said elon- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS exists between said triangular end sections, and be- 2,815,251 12/1957 Stone 214" 1 tween the plane containing said horizontal connecting 3113 1,907 5/1964 P P rod and said elongated horizontal brace and the 3,157,386 11/1964 Hlggms 2544-6 plane containing said material support members. 3,181,711 5/1965 Stockton 214'1 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said crank 20 3,208,555 9/1965 Fry 254 4-2 means comprises a crank and a ratchet plate secured to said crank for rotation therewith; and

said means for preventing rotation of said crank com- EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

H. C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR LIFTING FLAT CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS OF LARGE SURFACE AREA COMPRISING: A VERTICALLY EXTENDING FRAMEWORK COMPRISING: A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED, GENERALLY TRIANGULAR END SECTIONS, EACH OF SAID TRIANGULAR END SECTIONS INCLUDING: TWO UPWARDLY EXTENDING, CONVERGING, ELONGATED SIDE MEMBERS; MEANS CONNECTING THE RELATIVELY CLOSELY ADJACENT UPPER ENDS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS TO EACH OTHER; AND A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BRACE INTERCONNECTING THE TWO SIDE MEMBERS AT POINTS ADJACENT THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS; A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING, ELONGATED BRACE MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN AND INTERCONNECTING SAID HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BRACES IN THE TWO TRIANGULAR END SECTIONS, SAID HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING, ELONGATED BRACE MEMBER BEING CONNECTED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS OT SUBSTANTIALLY THE MIDPOINTS OF SAID BRACES; ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL MEANS HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDS ROTATABLY CONNECTED TO THE HORIZONTALLY SPACED, TRIANGULAR END SECTIONS ADJACENT THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID ELONGATED SIDE MEMBERS, SAID ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL MEANS BEING GENERALLY VERTICALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING BRACE MEMBER; CRANK MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL MEANS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF ONE OF SAID TRIANGULAR END SECTIONS FROM THE OTHER SAID TRIANGULAR END SECTION; MEANS SECURED TO SAID ONE TRIANGULAR END SECTION FOR PREVENTING THE ROTATION OF SAID CRANK MEANS IN ONE DIRECTION WHILE PERMITTING SAID CRANK MEANS TO ROTATE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION; CASTERS MOUNTED AT THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID ELONGATED SIDE MEMBERS FOR IMPARTING PORTABILITY TO SAID APPARATUS; AND A SUPPORT CARRIAGE SLIDINGLY MOUNTED ON SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING FRAMEWORK FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO, SAID SUPPORT CARRIAGE COMPRISING: AN H-SHAPED HORIZONTAL FRAMEWORK LYING SUBSTANTIALLY IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE AND HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RODS EACH EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY AND OCCUPYING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE AS ONE OF SAID TRIANGULAR END SECTIONS; AND AN ELONGATED, HORIZONTAL CONNECTING ROD ATTACHED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO SAID PARALLEL RODS AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE MIDPOINT OF EACH OF SAID PARALLEL RODS, THE HORIZONTAL CONNECTING ROD LYING GENERALLY IN THE SAME VERTICAL PLANE AS SAID HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING, ELONGATED BRACE MEMBER; A PAIR OF SPACED, RIGID, VERTICALLY EXTENDING MEMBERS ALIGNED IN A COMMON PLANE WITH SAID HORIZONTAL CONNECTING ROD AND EACH CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END TO SUBSTANTIALLY THE MIDPOINT OF ONE OF SAID PARALLEL RODS AND EACH EXTENDING SLIDINGLY THROUGH THE CONNECTING MEANS OF ONE OF SAID TRIANGULAR END SECTIONS AND MAINTAINED SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY ALIGNED THEREBY; 